Introducing a new Strange Harbors column: Capsule Reviews. I watch a lot of TV and movies, but my obsession with writing in-depth reviews and articles often gets in the way of wider and more frequent coverage. This new column will be a way to remedy that, allowing me to write shorter and more digestible reviews, reserved primarily for when I don’t have a full review’s worth of thoughts to share about a particular film. Here’s what I’ve been watching lately…

As we practice social distancing and quarantine during this new age of COVID-19, there’s only so much to do when stuck at home. Luckily, for all the cinephiles and TV buffs out there protecting themselves from coronavirus, we have our streaming services to keep us company. Today, at Strange Harbors, I’ll be recommending some of my personal favorites across all platforms that you can stream while self-isolating. Without further ado, here’s the official Strange Harbors quarantine streaming guide…

Writer and director Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation) brings his brand of heady sci-fi to television in the form of Devs, a joint production between FX and Hulu. As an intimate exploration of the human condition framed by macro science fiction, Devs keeps Garland’s signature style intact in a serialized and thrilling way. Three episodes watched for review, minor spoilers ahead…

Timely, relevant, and genuinely terrifying, Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man recontextualizes a classic Universal monster into a modern examination of abuse, toxicity, and gaslighting. With impeccable spatial awareness, gripping soundscapes, and an unforgettable performance from Elisabeth Moss, The Invisible Man isn’t just one of 2020’s best horror movies, it’s one of its best films, period. Minor spoilers ahead…

The second Star Trek series to debut on the CBS All Access streaming platform, Star Trek: Picard warmly welcomes Jean-Luc Picard back into the fold of Starfleet politics. Despite a slower start and some lopsided pacing, its episodes are elevated by Patrick Stewart’s gravitas and charisma, making a comeback almost 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. Picard pushes farther into the final frontier in interesting ways, even if it takes awhile to get there.

Baffling title drama aside, Birds of Prey is a boisterous and colorful addition to the DCEU. More “DC” than “EU,” director Cathy Yan assembles a squad of DC Comics heroines in a rollicking, stand-alone adventure. While there’s not much substance to its story, Birds of Prey’s narrative shortcomings are outweighed by its confidence and bombastic action, including a pitch-perfect performance from Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Minor spoilers ahead…

A breathtaking technical marvel, Sam Mendes’ 1917 is a single-shot journey through the horrors of World War I. Aided by the sweeping camerawork of cinematographer Roger Deakins, the film is an astonishing piece of storytelling, if a little emotionally frigid. But even with its remoteness, George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman put forth tremendous physical performances that make the film a sight to behold. Minor spoilers ahead…

Introducing The Strange Harbors Podcast, a weekly discussion of film and television. With the future of HBO’s Watchmen in a state of uncertainty, we’ve decided to pivot to a more general discussion of cinema and pop culture. Join me, Derek Wong, and new host Amir Touray every week as we dive deep into big blockbusters, indie favorites, and under-seen hidden gems. Hopefully, the same insight and analysis we brought to Watchmen will translate over to your favorite films and television shows.

HBO’s new series, The Outsider, continues Stephen King’s onscreen renaissance with a harrowing adaptation of the celebrated author’s novel. Given a prestige drama sheen, the show operates as an unflinching detective story full of twists and turns, bolstered by an all-star cast. Ben Mendelsohn and Jason Bateman both shine in their respective roles as Ralph Anderson and Terry Maitland, navigating a whirlwind of grief, horror, and a touch of the supernatural. Four episodes watched for review. Minor spoilers ahead…

2019 was an embarrassment of riches when it came to cinema. While it’s true that most years require at least some thoughtful contemplation when it comes to whittling down a top ten, 2019 was especially difficult in curating a “best of” list. In the final year of the 2010s, we had tender space odysseys, biting showdowns between the haves and have-nots, treatises on loves won and lost, and deeply personal stories mined from the past - just to name a few. The movies were a hell of a place to be last year. So, let’s pour one out for the decade as it sails into history by celebrating some of my favorite films of 2019.

As we bid farewell to the 2010s, here is the A Year in Film mashup of the decade. 2019 was another great year for cinema, and now at its end, we’re celebrating all the movies that came out this year with another trailer mashup. Science fiction, drama, horror, thriller, romance - it’s all represented here in one giant extravaganza. So get comfy and grab your popcorn…

Lazy and uninspired, J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a pandering regression from the bold new direction established by Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi. Even worse, it’s the first Star Wars film engineered to please its loudest and most troubled demographic: the toxic fandom. A frantic rush to bring a nine-film saga to a close, The Rise of Skywalker is filled with narrative dead-ends, aborted character arcs, and generic fetch quests, all designed to please as many people as possible. Minor spoilers below…

After the back-to-back successeses on Netflix with Gerald’s Game and The Haunting of Hill House, renowned horror master Mike Flanagan attempts to snag his whale. An adaptation of the Stephen King novel and a full-on sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, Doctor Sleep is ambitious, thrilling, and beautifully realized…but ultimately a mixed bag. There’s much to love, but the film still lies in the shadow of Kubrick’s mad genius. Mild spoilers ahead…

The Irishman, Martin Scorsese’s latest gangland epic, is a somber and morose journey through the life of Bufalino hitman Frank Sheeran. Based on the real Sheeran’s biography “I Heard You Paint Houses,” the film is a measured departure from Scorsese’s past filmography and the genre he helped revolutionize; the mob movie to end all mob movies, The Irishman is a masterful exploration of tragedy and the gravity of regret. Mild spoilers ahead…

The Mandalorian, director Jon Favreau’s new series on Disney Plus, probably isn’t what you’d expect from a live-action Star Wars television show. A handedly capable tentpole for the biggest streaming service launch since Netflix, The Mandalorian forgoes its advertised dark action drama and instead opts for a lighter tone. Four episodes watched for review. Minor spoilers ahead…

I don’t find myself trafficking in hyperbole or superlatives very often, but Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a cinematic masterstroke that deserves every bit of its widespread acclaim. A film that defies both genre and expectation, Parasite is a complex and scathing meditation on class and human nature that bends to the director’s razor-sharp whims. Easy to love and difficult to categorize, Bong Joon-ho’s latest is undoubtedly the best film of the year. This review will detail some broad plot points, so if you prefer a pure experience, I suggest not reading any further. Minor spoilers ahead…

Despite the return of Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor and director James Cameron as producer, Terminator: Dark Fate once again proves that the killer cyborg franchise is running on fumes. Touted as a return to form for the series and a long-awaited followup to Cameron’s first two sci-fi classics, the film is positioned as redemption for a series that has long been floundering and misguided. Unfortunately, however, Dark Fate serves up neither the nail-biting terror of The Terminator nor the white-knuckle action of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, all the while shedding the emotional throughlines that made them great. Mild spoilers ahead…

Breaking Bad series creator Vince Gilligan returns to helm a one-shot epilogue centered around Jesse Pinkman in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Taking place right after the events of the acclaimed AMC drama, El Camino is neither essential nor groundbreaking, but it is an absolute pleasure to behold. Like slipping on a pair of worn and comfortable shoes, Gilligan and Aaron Paul make a thrilling and confident return to the world they left behind six years ago. Minor spoilers ahead…